What applications have you found really useful and valuable for you as you use your Mac?
Caffeine: This program helps you keep your screen bright without constantly waking it up or changing your power settings. It can be set for a period of time or indefinitely. I have found it useful with some video chatting, screen access in meetings, and reading to keep the screen bright. (Free)
**Cyberduck** [ftp client] - The ultimate free FTP client with the silliest name (and cutesy icon). This is a solid piece of software that enables you to read and write to your FTP server like it was a folder on your desktop. (Freeware, but donations welcome)
Delicious Library 2: This is a great way to organize, inventory, and even check out resources you have such as books, movies, and more. It even allows you to use the camera on your laptop as a bar code scanner. I have found it very helpful as my stuff is scattered about. (Free trial / $40)
**Evernote** [note-taking] - Clip Webpages, images, text from documents, PDFs, and anything else you can see on your screen and store them in the cloud. Your notes are tag-able and searchable. If you have an iPhone, take a photograph and the text is scanned into OCR and also becomes searchable. Or speak into the phone for an audio note. This is an amazing tool for keeping track of things you don't want to forget. Desktop (Mac and Windows) and iPhone versions are free, as is the basic online account.
**Growl** [notifications] - This preference pane is a system-wide notification app. Ever noticed how Skype pops up a little window and tells you when someone is online? Growl does this with many applications--telling you when something is finished downloading, when a device is unplugged, what song is starting in iTunes, etc. etc. (Freeware)
**Isolator** [concentrating] - This tiny app keeps you focused on the work at hand and helps you avoid the distraction that can arise from the myth of multi-tasking. It puts an innocuous looking square in the menu bar. Click on it, and only the window you want active will be visible. Other windows, desktop, icons, your doc, and everything else you don't need at the moment can be either blurred or blacked out completely. You can customize how this happens. It's extremely useful when you just need to knuckle down and get some writing done without being bothered. (Freeware)
iSquint: This is a nice little movie file conversion tool that helps put files into an editable format for iMovie. I have found it very useful for making the most of my movie editing options and combining files into one file quickly. (Free)
Jing [Screencasting] This is a simple way to show students how to do things in an applciation (like calculations in Excel, or line of best fit in Logger Pro, etc.) This is especially super because you can post instructions one time and kids can see it as many times as they want. Of course if they miss class they still have access to "how to do it!" (Free with pro option)
Omnigraffle [concept map making] - the advantages of concept maps are they are more organic to build - you do not have to advance plan. This is the only software I have found which actually lets you mind map on the computer like you would on paper. That's why I spent money on it! I use it for brainstorming, for lesson planning, for discussing ideas with students, etc. Everyone always says, "Wow-where did you get that?" ($100 depending on version)
**Quicksilver** [world domination] - Heavy on the geek factor (i.e. not for the faint of heart), Quicksilver allows you to open applications, manipulate files, control iTunes, search your hard drive, make coffee (oh wait, not that) without ever lifting your hands from the keyboard. No mouse, no clicking, no navigation necessary. Plug-ins are available for lots of common applications. I don't know how to use a Mac without it now! (Freeware)
Sandvox - [website building] Similar to iWeb, but this allows you to put things where YOU want them; more flexibility without being harder to learn. Simply amazing! You can see the Science Knights website we built last year or Jay's.
**Scrivener** [writing] - This is a tool to help you organize your writing. It allows you to move parts of your writing around as well import PDFs, websites, etc. right into the program so everything is stored together. It exports easily to Word. I have come to appreciate this in my graduate work to organize my writings. (Free trial, $40)
**Things** - I have been using Checkoff for a to-do list. However, a friend pointed me to this. It is a pretty advanced, yet simple, task management application. I have found this to be a fantastic tool for setting priorities and scheduling tasks. You see a more detailed review of the features I like here . ($50 for single user; $75 for family pack of up to 5 users in same household)
Caffeine: This program helps you keep your screen bright without constantly waking it up or changing your power settings. It can be set for a period of time or indefinitely. I have found it useful with some video chatting, screen access in meetings, and reading to keep the screen bright. (Free)
**Cyberduck** [ftp client] - The ultimate free FTP client with the silliest name (and cutesy icon). This is a solid piece of software that enables you to read and write to your FTP server like it was a folder on your desktop. (Freeware, but donations welcome)
Delicious Library 2: This is a great way to organize, inventory, and even check out resources you have such as books, movies, and more. It even allows you to use the camera on your laptop as a bar code scanner. I have found it very helpful as my stuff is scattered about. (Free trial / $40)
**Evernote** [note-taking] - Clip Webpages, images, text from documents, PDFs, and anything else you can see on your screen and store them in the cloud. Your notes are tag-able and searchable. If you have an iPhone, take a photograph and the text is scanned into OCR and also becomes searchable. Or speak into the phone for an audio note. This is an amazing tool for keeping track of things you don't want to forget. Desktop (Mac and Windows) and iPhone versions are free, as is the basic online account.
**Growl** [notifications] - This preference pane is a system-wide notification app. Ever noticed how Skype pops up a little window and tells you when someone is online? Growl does this with many applications--telling you when something is finished downloading, when a device is unplugged, what song is starting in iTunes, etc. etc. (Freeware)
**Isolator** [concentrating] - This tiny app keeps you focused on the work at hand and helps you avoid the distraction that can arise from the myth of multi-tasking. It puts an innocuous looking square in the menu bar. Click on it, and only the window you want active will be visible. Other windows, desktop, icons, your doc, and everything else you don't need at the moment can be either blurred or blacked out completely. You can customize how this happens. It's extremely useful when you just need to knuckle down and get some writing done without being bothered. (Freeware)
iSquint: This is a nice little movie file conversion tool that helps put files into an editable format for iMovie. I have found it very useful for making the most of my movie editing options and combining files into one file quickly. (Free)
Jing [Screencasting] This is a simple way to show students how to do things in an applciation (like calculations in Excel, or line of best fit in Logger Pro, etc.) This is especially super because you can post instructions one time and kids can see it as many times as they want. Of course if they miss class they still have access to "how to do it!" (Free with pro option)
Omnigraffle [concept map making] - the advantages of concept maps are they are more organic to build - you do not have to advance plan. This is the only software I have found which actually lets you mind map on the computer like you would on paper. That's why I spent money on it! I use it for brainstorming, for lesson planning, for discussing ideas with students, etc. Everyone always says, "Wow-where did you get that?" ($100 depending on version)
**Quicksilver** [world domination] - Heavy on the geek factor (i.e. not for the faint of heart), Quicksilver allows you to open applications, manipulate files, control iTunes, search your hard drive, make coffee (oh wait, not that) without ever lifting your hands from the keyboard. No mouse, no clicking, no navigation necessary. Plug-ins are available for lots of common applications. I don't know how to use a Mac without it now! (Freeware)
Sandvox - [website building] Similar to iWeb, but this allows you to put things where YOU want them; more flexibility without being harder to learn. Simply amazing! You can see the Science Knights website we built last year or Jay's.
**Scrivener** [writing] - This is a tool to help you organize your writing. It allows you to move parts of your writing around as well import PDFs, websites, etc. right into the program so everything is stored together. It exports easily to Word. I have come to appreciate this in my graduate work to organize my writings. (Free trial, $40)
**Things** - I have been using Checkoff for a to-do list. However, a friend pointed me to this. It is a pretty advanced, yet simple, task management application. I have found this to be a fantastic tool for setting priorities and scheduling tasks. You see a more detailed review of the features I like here . ($50 for single user; $75 for family pack of up to 5 users in same household)